Fort Dix 1979 U.S. Army Basic Training Yearbook – Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade

Front Cover, Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979 Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. | GGA Image ID # 231820015a

📖 Review & Summary – Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook 1979, Company B

⭐ Introduction

The 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook records the transformation of 227 recruits in Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade, who graduated on 8 August 1979. Commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Robin Edmond, this class trained during the post-Vietnam era when the U.S. Army was transitioning into an all-volunteer force (established in 1973).

This yearbook reflects both continuity and change: recruits still endured the traditional rigors of Basic Combat Training, but the Army was also professionalizing, adapting to new Cold War challenges, and opening more opportunities for women and minorities.

🏅 Engaging Content Highlights

All-Volunteer Force Era

By 1979, the draft had been abolished for six years. Every soldier in this yearbook volunteered, a sharp contrast to earlier Fort Dix classes (1960–1972) dominated by draftees.

Inclusion of Women

Recruits like Karen Bacon, Judith Beneventi, Deena Coker, Cindy Coonce, Patricia Gallant, Pamela Hardman, Yvonne Head, Sandra Larry, Rita Lucas, Nancy Luebstorf, Denise McDonald, Shanita Norris, Lisa Pfeiffer, Nancy Revelle, Denise Schnorrbusch, Kimberly Weber, Valorie Wacker illustrate the growing integration of women into Army training companies. This marks a profound shift in Army history.

Diversity of Backgrounds

Names such as Ayesh, Saleh (Middle Eastern), Nguyen, Phuong (Vietnamese), Kills Small, Hilda (Native American), Kaleiohī, Terry Lee and Kawelo, Llewelyn (Hawaiian) highlight the Army’s reach into immigrant, indigenous, and Pacific communities.

Rich Photographic Record

With 11 pages of portraits plus leadership spreads, this yearbook is one of the most thorough in Fort Dix’s collection.

Large Cohort

At 227 recruits, Company B 1979 was notably larger than many earlier Fort Dix classes, reflecting both Army manpower needs and the success of the volunteer force in drawing recruits.

Explore the 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook for Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade. Features rosters, photos, and leadership profiles of 227 recruits during the early All-Volunteer Force era. A valuable resource for genealogists, veterans, historians, and military archives.

Company B 1979 Organization and Schedule

• Organization: 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade
• Commenced Training: Not Reported
• Completed Training: 8 August 1979

Company B 1979 Leadership

• Brigade Commander: Paul A. McGowan
• Commanding Officer: LTC Donald L. Peters
• Company Commander: 2Lt Robin Edmond
• Executive Officer: MAJ John D. Latimer
• Command Sergeant Major: CSM George L. Hood
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC William Blankenburg
• Platoon Sergeant: SFC Charles Daughton
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Willie Robinson
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Anthony Serratorre
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Michael Snider
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Charles Washington
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Robert Richardson
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Stephen Fowler\
• Platoon Sergeant: SGT Sandra Glover
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG James Wallace.
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Joseph Nadeau
• Platoon Sergeant: SSG Vernon Mobley

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Adriano Acorda-George Bowman)

1. Adriano Acorda
2. Alan Briar Accosada
3. William Adiutori
4. Chris Ahrendt
5. Marlor Allagonez
6. Lawrence Allie
7. Daniel D. Anderson
8. Sebastian Aquino
9. Gerald A. Armijo
10. Saleh Ayesh
11. Karen Bacon
12. Charles Bagwell
13. Terence Baligad
14. Charles Barefoot
15. Gary Barnes
16. John Baqui
17. Brad Baxter
18. Kenneth Beaird
19. Marc Behic
20. Randall Bell
21. Judith Beneventi
22. Perri Bishaw
23. Douglas W. Blood
24. Charles Bowles
25. George Bowman

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Dean Brown-David Downer)

1. Dean Brown
2. Gordon Brown
3. William Burton
4. Martin Carpenter
5. Jerry Carrasco
6. Thomas Chaplin
7. Glenn Chastonay
8. Jay Clair
9. Steven Clark
10. Lance Clobes
11. John Cluka
12. Deena Coker
13. Lonnie Collins
14. Patrick Collins
15. Cindy Coonce
16. Richard B. Cooper
17. Sohonnie Cooper
18. Hayward Corker
19. Jesse Correa
20. Ronald Craig
21. Allen Crotzer
22. Richard Davis
23. Harry Devine
24. Dennis Dew
25. David Downer

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Lewis Edwards-Tom Grace)

1. Lewis Edwards
2. Michael Ellingson
3. Jonathan Erickson
4. Michael Facio
5. Timothy Feidt
6. Chad Ferguson
7. Barney Firkus
8. Robert Fisher
9. Robert Fitzner
10. Ricky Fletcher
11. Frederick Flickner
12. Eric Fogel
13. Ronald Fornaro
14. Joseph Forshey
15. Carlus Fountain
16. Derrick Fowler
17. Lucine Frazier
18. Patricia Gallant
19. Joseph Gatchel
20. Timothy Ginn
21. Kevin Gladd
22. Rickey Goodwin
23. Chester Gordon
24. Henry Gordon
25. Tom Grace

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Walter Graves-James Jackson)

1. Walter Graves
2. Mark Greene
3. Elmer Gregory
4. Jorg Groce
5. Bonny Groenendal
6. James Gunzinger
7. Percy Halty
8. A. Hannah
9. Pamela Hardman
10. James L. Harmon
11. Freddie Hayward
12. Yvonne Head
13. Mark Heiress
14. Richard Henrizi
15. Peter G. Henschel
16. Ken Hoffman
17. Marty Holeva
18. Scott Holmgren
19. Garfield Holm
20. John Holzapfel
21. Kurt Howore
22. Wesley Hunter
23. Todd Hunt
24. Charles Hurd
25. James Jackson

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Jeffrey James-Joseph Linton)

1. Jeffrey James
2. Charles Jenkins
3. Mark Johnson
4. Harold H. Johnston
5. Lorenzo Jones
6. David Kaawa
7. Terry Lee Kaleiohî
8. Llewelyn Kawelo
9. Jerry Kays
10. Larry D. Kay
11. Darrell Kennedy
12. Hilda Kills Small
13. Franklin Kimble
14. Tami King
15. Terry Kitchick
16. Robert Koch
17. Reginald Lamphene
18. Terry Lane
19. Andrena LaPlante
20. Sandra Larry
21. Ellery C. Law
22. Daniel Leathers
23. Craig Lee
24. Wm. Leitenberger
25. Joseph Linton

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Vincent Liotta-Andrew Moxey)

1. Vincent Liotta
2. Rita Lucas
3. Nancy Luebstorf
4. Timothy Lund
5. David MacDonald
6. Robert Manfredi
7. Donald Marks
8. Arthur Marquez
9. Terry Martinell
10. Michael Martin
11. Stanley Mason
12. Steven McCaffrey
13. Denise McDonald
14. James McKelvin
15. Mark McNall
16. Marlon Metzgen
17. David Milam
18. Andrew R. Miller
19. David Miller
20. Raymond Miller
21. Robert Miller
22. Anthony Mîrana
23. Connie Moore
24. Dale Morris
25. Andrew Moxey

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (James Neissa-Elvie Rush)

1. James Neissa
2. Harold E. Nelson
3. Thomas Newton
4. Phuong Nguyen
5. Shanita Norris
6. Stephen O'Day
7. Steven Ohms
8. Scott O'Neil
9. O. C. Owens Jr.
10. Timothy Parison
11. Dennis Peterson
12. Lisa Pfeiffer
13. Larry Proof
14. John Raines
15. Michael Reason
16. Bruce Reges
17. Ronald Reule
18. Nancy Revelle
19. William Richard
20. Charles Robinson
21. Eugene Robinson
22. Daniel Rodriguez
23. Thomas Rogers
24. Curt Rosas
25. Elvie Rush

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Ross Sampson-James Townsend)

1. Ross Sampson
2. Daniel Sanborn
3. LaQueta Sanders
4. Denise Schnorrbusch
5. Robert Sendner
6. Larry Senesac
7. Dwayne Shepherd
8. Dale Smith
9. John A. Snodgrass
10. Clayton Stammer
11. H. Degg Stark
12. Jerome Stivanson
13. Michael Stuteman
14. Byron D. Sutton
15. Dennis Swanier
16. Joseph Swenson
17. Ronald Sunnada
18. Randy W. Taft
19. Leonard C. Tandal
20. Jeffrey Thielke
21. Alexanoria Thomas
22. Bernard Thompson
23. Douglas Thompson
24. Joel Thompson
25. James Townsend

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (James S. Tredway-Carlyze Winn)

1. James S. Tredway
2. Fea Tullowa
3. Roger Tull
4. Bruce Turnbull
5. Carmen Turner
6. Raymond VanWostrand
7. Anthony Vargas
8. Ramiro Villarreal
9. Thomas Volz
10. Valorie Wacker
11. Robert Walker
12. Scott Warnick
13. Robert Watkins
14. William G. Weaver
15. Kimberly Weber
16. Craig Weed
17. Jerry Wellacher
18. Randy West
19. Mark Wheeler
20. Darcy Wilcox
21. Phillip Williams
22. Tilden Wilt
23. Mark Wilkins
24. Jeffrey Wimer
25. Carlyze Winn

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Chris Wood and Ronald Wright)

1. Chris Wood
2. Ronald Wright

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Leadership, Page 1. Portrait Photos of LTC Donald L. Peters, MAJ John D. Latimer, CSM George L. Hood. (Bottom Photo): Standing (L-R) 2Lt Robin Edmond, Sfc William Blankenburg, Sfc Charles Daughton, Ssg Willie Robinson, Ssg Anthony Serratorre, Ssg Michael Snider, Ssg Charles Washington, Ssg Robert Richardson, Ssg Stephen Fowler, Sgt Sandra Glover, Ssg James Wallace. Kneeling (L-R) Ssg Joseph Nadeau, Ssg Vernon Mobley. | GGA Image ID # 13dadeeb7d. Click to View a Larger Image.

🎖️ Noteworthy Leaders

COL Paul A. McGowan (Brigade Commander) – Oversaw multiple training battalions at Fort Dix.

LTC Donald L. Peters (Battalion Commander) – Directed the 1st Battalion, 3rd Training Brigade.

2LT Robin Edmond (Company Commander) – A young officer tasked with shaping one of the largest companies of the year.

MAJ John D. Latimer (Executive Officer) – Coordinated logistics and administration for Company B.

CSM George L. Hood (Command Sergeant Major) – The senior enlisted leader at battalion level.

SFC William Blankenburg, SFC Charles Daughton, SSG Willie Robinson, SSG Anthony Serratorre, SSG Michael Snider, SSG Charles Washington, SSG Robert Richardson, SSG Stephen Fowler, SGT Sandra Glover, SSG James Wallace, SSG Joseph Nadeau, SSG Vernon Mobley – The drill cadre directly responsible for transforming civilians into disciplined soldiers. Notably, SGT Sandra Glover represents the growing presence of women in Army leadership roles.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 1 (Adriano Acorda-George Bowman). | GGA Image ID # 13db2792a3. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 2 (Dean Brown-David Downer). | GGA Image ID # 13db4197f1. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 3 (Lewis Edwards-Tom Grace). | GGA Image ID # 13dbb00321. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 4 (Walter Graves-James Jackson). | GGA Image ID # 13dbc73611. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 5 (Jeffrey James-Joseph Linton). | GGA Image ID # 13dbd5e533. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 6 (Vincent Liotta-Andrew Moxey). | GGA Image ID # 13dbe944a7. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 7 (James Neissa-Elvie Rush). | GGA Image ID # 13dc5e5ad8. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 8 (Ross Sampson-James Townsend). | GGA Image ID # 13dc668fba. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 9 (James S. Tredway-Carlyze Winn). | GGA Image ID # 13dc9ee79f. Click to View a Larger Image.

Company B 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Recruit Photos, Part 10 (Chris Wood and Ronald Wright). | GGA Image ID # 13dcb5482b. Click to View a Larger Image.

🌟 Notable Soldiers & Connections

While no nationally famous soldiers stand out in this roster, the cultural and demographic significance of this class is striking:

Women Recruits – Their presence makes this yearbook especially valuable for understanding the evolution of gender integration in the Army.

Vietnamese Representation – Nguyen, Phuong stands out, reflecting the enlistment of Southeast Asian immigrants after the Vietnam War.

Native American Heritage – Hilda Kills Small symbolizes the Army’s longstanding connection to Native communities.

Pacific Islanders – Terry Lee Kaleiohī and Llewelyn Kawelo show how Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders continued to play a major role in U.S. military service.

This diversity mirrors the Army’s increasing role as a multi-ethnic, professional volunteer institution during the Cold War.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images

Front Cover (1979 Yearbook) – Emblematic design reflecting Company B’s identity within the 3rd Training Brigade.

Leadership Page (Standing & Kneeling Group) – Features the full training cadre, including the company commander and drill sergeants (GGA Image ID #13dadeeb7d).

Recruit Photo Pages (2–11) – Hundreds of portraits documenting the wide demographic range of this graduating company.

🎓 Relevance for Key Audiences

Teachers & Students – Offers primary material for studying the Army’s transition from the draft to an all-volunteer force.

Genealogists – With 227 names and photos, this yearbook is invaluable for family history research.

Historians & Military Archives – Demonstrates the Army’s integration of women, immigrants, and minorities at Fort Dix in the late Cold War era.

Veterans & Families – Preserves the memory of those who served during a formative, transitional period in the Army’s evolution.

📘 Key to Officer, NCO, and Enlisted Ranks

• COL – Colonel (O-6)
• LTC – Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
• MAJ – Major (O-4)
• 2LT – Second Lieutenant (O-1)
• CSM – Command Sergeant Major (E-9)
• SFC – Sergeant First Class (E-7)
• SSG – Staff Sergeant (E-6)
• SGT – Sergeant (E-5)
  

📖 Dictionary of Military Terms & Abbreviations

Training Brigade – A large organizational unit at Fort Dix responsible for multiple battalions of recruits.

Drill Sergeant – NCO tasked with training, discipline, and indoctrination of recruits.

Guidon – The company flag, symbolizing unit pride and heritage.

Executive Officer (XO) – Second-in-command of a company, overseeing administration and operations.

All-Volunteer Force – The post-1973 U.S. military system relying entirely on voluntary enlistment rather than the draft.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The 1979 Fort Dix Basic Training Yearbook, Company B is a milestone document. It captures the early all-volunteer Army—larger, more diverse, and more inclusive than ever before.

📘 For genealogists, historians, teachers, and veterans, this yearbook stands as both a military time capsule and a testament to the evolving face of the U.S. Army at the end of the 1970s.